Sign



June 12, 1923.

J. C. BOYD SIGN I Filed Sept. 14 1922 t'l'l Patented June 12,. 1923,

warren stares rAinn'r- ,orr ca.

. JAMES mew, or PITCAIRN, rnmisYLvA via;

SIGN.

Application filed September '14, 1922. Serial No. 588,233.

1/ 0 all whom it may concern: i.

Be it known that I, James C; Born, a,cit izen of the United Statesresiding at Pitcairn, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented" certain new and useful Improvements in Signs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to signs, more par ticularly to license or number plates for n10- tor vehicles somewhat similar to my Patent No, l,329,i54c,but it is to be understood however that the invention can be employed for any purposes wherein it is foundto be ap-,

plicable.

The objects ofthe invention are to provide a license plate, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, with the numbers or digits so setup as to be quickly read ata distance and of a form which will readily attract ones attention, and furthermore to provide the numbers or digits of the plate one of a different color from an adjacent number of digit so they will be very J conspicuous and quickly seen. 7

Further objects of the invention are to provide a license plate of the type stated which embodies means and. a light element making the plate as discernible at night as in daytime, which provides a substitute forthe I ordinary tail light, which is constructed from individual digit or number units permitting of the removal or replacement of the single numbers or digits from the plate without disturbing the position of the other digits or numbers, which is ornamental, durable and efficient in its use, conspicuous and ine):- pensive.

With the foregoing and other objects in tion.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of an 'individual unit formed with a single digit.

Figure 3 1s a transverse sectional View of the device.

Figure 4 is a front view ofthelamp casing with the digit units removed therefrom.

Referringto Figure l of the drawings-the license plate 1 comprises a plurality of small sheet metal members 2 and may be of any suitable contour, preferably rectangularas shown.

Each of the membersQ consists of a front sheet 3 and a rear sheet 4, secured together by a bolt 5 with the rear sheet 4 positioned slightlyin advance of the front sheet 3 for the purpose of providing an interengaging overlapping connection with adjacent sheets. Each of the members 2 is provided with a. designation on the front sheet 3 which in the plate illustrated, consists of a number or digit. As shown in Figure 1, the digits five, one, seven, naught and six are used in the composite plate 1 and are indicated at 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 respectively. The plate is illustrated by way of example with five dig- 3 its reading fifty one thousand seven hundred I and six, but it is obvious that the number of digits can be increased or diminished as desired. The end member is provided with the usual designations,-an.d representing, respec-j tively, the State and cense is issued.

Each of the digits used in the assembly" of at least with respect to an adjacent digit,

f so that they will morereadily attract attention as well as providin a conspicuous number. I

year in which the li a license plate is preferably represented in j a different color relatively to each other, or

As shown in the plate 1, the digit 6 is yel- I low, the digit 7 green, the digit 8 blue, the

digit 9 red, and the digit 10; purple. Under these conditions the digits, are of a diiferen color on each of the members.

The digit shown on each of the members I 2, besides being painted o'n'the latter in a color desired, is also formed in the same color .byarranging a plurality of small colored lenses to form the digit which is painted on the said member 2. p

The lenses are indicated at 11, and have a flat rear surface and a convex front face.

The lenses 11 are clamped between the two sheets 3 and 4 which are formed with registering apertures provided for said lenses 11.

The apertures in the sheets 3. and 4 are of less diameter than the diameter of the lenses so the latter cannot pass therethrough. The convex side of the lens 11 projects slightly through the aperture in the front'sheet 3.

The members 2 are securely-positioned to form the plate 1 by means of a bolt 12 which extends through each end of each of the members 2 and engages the apertured flange 13 of the lamp casing 14.

A lamp 15 is mounted in the rear central portion of the casing 141 and is adapted for displaying the digits outlined by the lenses 11 on respective members 2. The interior wallv of the casing 14 is utilized as a reflector for the lamp 15 in projecting the light through the lenses 11. v The rear wall of the casing 14 is formed with apertures 1? for attaching the casing to the motor vehicle.

The casing 14; may be of any desired contour colored digits will be shown through the lenses 11 and will be more prominent and conspicuous than the painted digits for daylight use, and will also serve as a substitute for the usual tail light for the motor vehicle.

What I claim is :A device for the purpose set forth comprising a lamp casing provided with a flange, a lamp mounted in said casing, a plurality of plates detachably secured to said flange, each of said plates consisting of a pair of apertured metal sheets secured together one in advance of the other, said apertures in each plate. arranged to designate a digit, a lens clamped in each of said apertures, the'lenses of one of said plates being of a color different relatively to the color of the lenses mounted in an adjacent plate substantially as described. I

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature.

JAMES C. BOYD. 

